The next tournament on the snooker circuit is the World Cup which begins in China on Monday and goes through until next Sunday as 24 of the biggest nations in the game send representative teams of two players to the tournament to determine who is the best team.
Recent Winners
2015 – China B
2011 – China
The Format
The 24 nations have been drawn into four groups of six. Each team plays the other five in their group once with the top two in the table after the group stage going into the knockout format where the event is played from quarter finals onwards.
In the group stage each match consists of five frames which sees each player playing both players in the opposition once along with a doubles. Each frame won is worth one point in the group table.
The knockout stages are the best of six frames with an extra doubles frame added onto the group format. Should a match end 3-3 the captains will choose who plays a deciding seventh frame.
As a result of the short format THERE WILL BE NO MATCH BETTING PREVIEWS.
Group A
The defending champions China 2 head the seedings in this group. Yan Bingtao and Zhou Yuelong are their pairing again having won the title two years ago. Wales are the other seeds in this group with Mark Williams and Ryan Day representing them. The other four sides are Brazil, Malaysia, Norway and Finland so the likes of Robin Hull, Kurt Maflin and Igor Figueiredo.
Group B
China 1 are the main seeds in this section with Ding Junhui and Liang Wenbo representing them. Hong Kong are the other seeds in the group with Marco Fu partnered by Au Chi Wai. Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Germany and Egypt are also in this group so Ken Doherty, Luca Brecel and Fergal O’Brien will be on show.
Group C
England are the top seeds in this group. Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins represent them this year. Australia are next with Neil Robertson and Kurt Dunham their pairing. Malta, Switzerland, Pakistan and Iran are the other sides in the group so we’ll see Hossein Vafaei and Alex Borg among others here.
Group D
2015 runners up Scotland are the big players in this group. John Higgins is paired with Anthony McGill this year after Stephen Maguire partnered him to the final two years ago. Northern Ireland are the other seeds with Mark Allen and Joe Swail teaming up once again. Dangerous floaters Thailand are in this group as are Cyprus, Israel and India.
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Betting
I don’t think this is a tournament to go too mad in although I suspect it will prove to be a better watch than it is a betting proposition but I will go with an outright bet in each half of the draw to add to the interest in the event.
In the top half I think the Republic of Ireland could be worth a go. Ken Doherty is in good touch having made the semi-finals in Riga last weekend while Fergal O’Brien is a decent player as a backup. Ireland aren’t seeded this year but if Marco Fu’s opponent struggles at this level they could be vulnerable and Ireland could take advantage. With Wales and China 2 seeded to be their quarter final opponent should the Republic qualify there is the chance to progress deep into the event.
In the other half of the draw England and Scotland take centre stage but with Barry Hawkins being a late arrival at the end and Anthony McGill making his debut there could be room for a surprise. Iran could be the ones to pull off that surprise. Hossein Vafaei can more than hold his own at this level and his partner Soheil Vahedi is on the main tour now. I would imagine they will be closer than some sides in this and that could see them pull off a surprise by getting to the knockout stages and beyond.
Tips
Back Republic of Ireland to win World Cup (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Skybet
Back them here:
Back Iran to win World Cup (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Winner Sports
Back them here:
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